Jonathan Stephenson
{{Short description|Politician from Northern Ireland (1950–2011)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jonathan Stephenson
| image =
| caption =
| office = Chair of the
Social Democratic and Labour Party
| leader = John Hume
| deputy =
| term_start = 1995
| term_end = 1998
| predecessor = Mark Durkan
| successor = Jim Lennon
| office1 = Northern Ireland Forum Member
| constituency1 = Top-up list
| term_start1 = 30 May 1996
| term_end1 = 25 April 1998
| predecessor1 = New forum
| successor1 = Forum dissolved
| office2 = Member of
Belfast City Council
| constituency2 = Castle
| term_start2 = 19 May 1993
| term_end2 = 21 May 1997
| predecessor2 = Tom Campbell
| successor2 = Tom Campbell
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1950|11|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|12|21|1950|10|30|df=yes}}
| education = Winchester College, Stanbridge Earls School, Queen's University Belfast
| party = Social Democratic and Labour
| children = Patricia Stephenson (daughter)
}}
Jonathan Stephenson (2 November 1950 – 21 December 2011) was an Irish nationalist politician in Northern Ireland who was the chairman of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 1995 to 1998, and a Belfast City Councillor for Castle from 1993 until 1997.
Additionally, Stephenson was a member of the Northern Ireland Forum, as a regional list representative, between 1996 and 1998.
Background
A Protestant born in England and educated at Winchester College and Stanbridge Earls School, Stephenson moved to Northern Ireland, where he studied History and Politics at Queen's University Belfast. He joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in the early 1980s, and became its first official press officer."[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16314362 Alasdair McDonnell pays tribute to ex-chairman Jonathan Stephenson]", BBC News, 23 December 2011
Stephenson was elected to Belfast City Council at the 1993 Northern Ireland local elections, representing the SDLP in the Castle area.[http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/lgbelfast.htm Belfast City Council Elections 1993-2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726100947/http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/lgbelfast.htm |date=26 July 2018 }}, Northern Ireland Elections He also became Deputy Chairperson of the SDLP,[http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/parties/pasdlp.shtml Politics 97: Social Democratic and Labour Party], BBC serving from 1995 to 1998.
In 1995, he became the party's Chairperson, serving until 1998.[http://www.terra.es/personal2/monolith/ulster.htm Political Leaders: Northern Ireland] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926084309/http://www.terra.es/personal2/monolith/ulster.htm |date=26 September 2008 }} At the Northern Ireland Forum election in 1996, he did not stand in a constituency, but was elected as one of two regional list candidates for the SDLP,[http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/ff96.htm The 1996 Forum Elections and the Peace Process] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025044436/http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/ff96.htm |date=25 October 2018 }}, Northern Ireland Elections but he lost his council seat in 1997.
In 2025 Stephenson's daughter Patricia Stephenson was elected to Seanad Éireann in the Republic of Ireland.{{cite news |last=Kelly O’Rourke |first=Liam |date= |title=Well known Kilkenny TD trails newbie candidate |url=https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/general-election/1669248/latest-well-known-kilkenny-td-trails-newbie-candidate.html |work=Kilkenny People |location= |publisher= |access-date=7 February 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/general-election/1654987/first-time-candidate-keen-to-offer-people-of-carlow-kilkenny-an-alternative-voice.html|title=First-time candidate keen to offer people of Carlow-Kilkenny an alternative voice|work=Kilkenny People|date=14 November 2024|accessdate=1 February 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|ni/for}}
{{s-new | Forum}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Regional Member
| years = 1996–1998
}}
{{s-non | reason = Forum dissolved }}
{{s-ppo}}
{{succession box|title=Chairperson of the Social Democratic and Labour Party|years=1995–1998|before=Mark Durkan|after=Jim Lennon}}
{{s-end}}
{{Social Democratic and Labour Party}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephenson, Jonathan}}
Category:Alumni of Queen's University Belfast
Category:Members of Belfast City Council
Category:Members of the Northern Ireland Forum
Category:Protestant Irish nationalists